Most Christians will urge their Pastors to take a stand against drugs. They see how lives, families and property are being destroyed by drug addiction, and they shout “Amen” every time the use and sell of drugs are called a sin.

Why do we call drugs sin? There are three basic reasons.

#1. They intoxicate the user. An Intoxicant is any substance that causes a disorder of the intellect. They can make you sluggish, hyper, confused, or even distant.

#2. They do harm to ones body, which often leads to death.

#3. They through the user do harm to others.

Now any of these three are sins, but with most drugs all three are present.
For instance, Cocaine; It is highly intoxicating, and it is very unhealthy to the body, a little too much cocaine will kill you instantly. It damages the heart, the mind, the nasal cavity and the blood vessels in our bodies. And those who are on a ‘cocaine high’ are a danger to those around them. Like with alcohol it is very dangerous to drive when you’re high on cocaine. Your judgment is simply impaired. Now I believe that everyone here and all those who read this would agree that it is simply a sin to use cocaine.
It is also a sin to use cocaine because its consumption is illegal.

Aren’t we to follow the laws of the land?

1Peter 2:13-15 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Now what if the United States Government made it LEGAL to use cocaine, and it was no longer a crime, and most people in the USA began to use the stuff. Would it still be a sin? Yes of course. It does not change the facts that it is an intoxicant, it damages the body, and it is a danger to those around the user.

Can I get a hardy “AMEN” when I stand and say it is SIN to use or to sell cocaine? I’m sure 90% of professed Christians would Amen me, and 100% of true Christians would.

But did you know that there is a drug that is more addictive than cocaine? That makes you high in the same way as cocaine makes you high? That damages your body more than cocaine, and does more damage than cocaine to the people around you? Yet is legal to use it, and many professed Christians use it, and many “professed Christians” will become offended when you speak against it. Do you know what it is? Tobacco. Some say you can’t preach against the use of Tobacco from scriptures. I guess because the word ‘tobacco’ isn’t mentioned in the bible; yet it is certainly named in it. It is a “Work of the flesh”, just like cocaine is a work of the flesh. And we will establish this from the bible.

Now the first basic reason that drugs are sin is because they intoxicate you. Does GOD want us to be intoxicated? What is the intoxication a fruit of?
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

It is definitely a work of the flesh. God doesn’t want us to be intoxicated. And the bible says those who do such things will not be in the kingdom of GOD. If you have a desire within you to get drunk, to get high, to get a buzz, or to be ‘relaxed’ by an outside stimulant, then the flesh is working in you.

Are cigarettes dope?

When a person inhales cigarette smoke, the nicotine in the smoke is rapidly absorbed into the blood and starts affecting the brain within 7 seconds. Nicotine from an inhaled cigarette reaches the brain faster than from an intravenous injection

In the brain, nicotine activates the same reward system as do other drugs of abuse such as cocaine or amphetamine. Research has found that nicotine is at least as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Nicotine's action on this reward system is responsible for drug-induced feelings of pleasure and, over time, addiction. It also promotes the release of the hormone beta-endorphin, which inhibits pain. The drug stimulates the release of the hormone epinephrine, which further stimulates the nervous system and is responsible for part of the "kick" from nicotine.

Tobacco whether it be smoked or chewed definitely affects our minds and our nervous system, and does indeed give the user a ‘buzz’, a form of intoxication.
ADDICTION

Also Notice that like most drugs Nicotine is addictive. How addictive? At least as addictive as heroin or cocaine. One out of three who try cigarettes become addicted to it. Should we be addicted to anything other than to GOD?
The Webster’s dictionary tells us this about addiction. 1. The act of devoting or giving up in practice; the state of being devoted. When some one is addicted to drugs their body is devoted to that drug. And when the body cannot have that drug it causes problems.

People addicted to nicotine experience withdrawal when they stop smoking. This withdrawal involves symptoms such as anger, anxiety, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, and craving for nicotine. Most of these symptoms subside within 3 to 4 weeks, except for the craving and hunger, which may persist for months.

Do you know what the term “Addiction” originally meant to the Romans? When one was “Addicted” he was sold as a slave to his creditor to pay for his debt. My friends, we are only to be addicted to one, and that is to Jesus Christ, who paid our sin debt. We are to be his servants. If we try to serve the flesh, and these drug addictions are works of the flesh, then we are not serving Jesus Christ.

My friends, Addiction to anything besides the Son of GOD is SIN, because you are the servant to whoever, or whatever you are addicted to. Tobacco is definitely fits reason #1. It is an intoxicating, addictive drug.

Does Cigarettes harm the body?
Does God want us to be healthy?

3John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

God wants us to be healthy and he teaches us in his word how to be healthy. If we rebel against his word, and refuse to follow his teaching on health, what will we reap?
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

It is sad to hear people blame GOD for their health problems! Of course some people will become sick even if they take care of themselves properly (Look at the example of Job), but the vast majority become ill because they have refused to obey God, and they reap what they sow.

Is purposely consuming poison a sin? Is hurting our bodies wrong? Can you imagine poisoning God’s body? Or Jesus’ body? Of course not. But God and his Son live in their people through the holy Ghost. We are the body of Christ.
1Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Do you think GOD is pleased when people attempt to destroy his body (Temple)?

1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Do you think Tobacco is healthy to smoke and chew? Tobacco in any form contains Nicotine. One drop of Nicotine in the blood stream can kill a man. Four drops can kill a horse. You can cut the head off of a turtle and it will move it’s toe for a week; but you put a couple of drops of Nicotine on its tongue, and it will die in a few minutes. You can mix one part Nicotine to a thousand part water and you have a deadly weed killer. Eating six cigarettes will often kill an average size person.
Each cigarette you smoke shortens your life by 14 minutes...do the math. That's over 4 hours per pack!

Over 4,000 chemicals can be found in tobacco smoke. 61 cancer causing agents have been identified in tobacco smoke. There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. “Light” and “low tar” cigarettes have been proven to be just as dangerous as “regular” cigarettes. Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and is also associated with cancers of the larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, and uterine cervix. Smoking is also the major cause of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Does Cigarettes lead to strokes?

In the cardiovascular system, nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure and restricts blood flow to the heart muscle. Blood vessels narrow and the blood travels through them more slowly. This can increase blood pressure. Nicotine also increases the tendency of the blood to clot and has been linked to diseases of the blood vessels, the heart and is a leading factor in strokes.

What did Jesus tell the Church in Revelations that they needed for their eyes? Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

They needed something that would make them see spiritually. Spiritual blindness is a most dangerous condition. Did you know that smoking is the leading cause of blindness???

Smoking is one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in wealthy countries. The blood vessels in the retina are sensitive, and can be easily damaged by smoke. Substances in cigarettes cause a kind of chemical inflammation in the ocular conjunctiva, giving rise to a bloodshot appearance in the mucous membrane of the eye, as well as an itchy sensation. Macular degeneration is the deterioration of the retina of the eye, resulting in the gradual loss of eyesight. Today, macular degeneration is the most common form of serious visual impairment and blindness in the wealthy countries of the world.

Did you know that smoking makes you look old and ugly?

This should especially make the girls think. The appearance of wrinkled, pale and grayish skin is four to five times more frequent in smokers than non-smokers. In 1971 an extensive study showed that the facial skin of long-term smokers was so terribly wrinkled that they looked as if they were 20 years older! Talk about not aging well!

Smoking causes the microscopic muscle fibers in the walls of the blood vessels to contract. This is why smokers have pale skin. Some smokers even say their fingers become cold when they smoke. A single cigarette can reduce the blood supply to the skin for more than an hour. Research also shows that smokers lose more teeth than nonsmokers. Plus have an increased risk of additional cavities, oral cancer, loss of taste, mouth sores, and gum disease.
There are 52 MILLION Americans who are cigarette smokers. 400,000 people in America DIE every year due to smoking related illnesses. Cigarettes are the #1 killer in America. It kills more than Aids, and illegal drug abuse combined.
Are we suppose to harm others?
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Are we suppose to murder others (Or even our selves)? Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

DOES SMOKING HARM OTHERS?

Over 50,000 U.S. citizens die each year from breathing someone else’s smoke. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is the third leading cause of death in America.

Tobacco smoke is considered a Group A Carcinogen, proven to cause cancer in humans.

Exposure to ETS can be associated with over 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia
each year in America among children 18 months and younger. Tobacco smoke increases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Smoking in the home dramatically increases the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Will there be Smokers in the kingdom?

I’ve had some say, “Smoking (or chewing) won’t take me to hell”. The worldly preachers will agree and say: “It won’t take you to hell, but you sure will smell like you’ve been there”.

The TRUTH IS THIS: The use of Tobacco for these purposes is SIN. It is a work of the flesh. It is an intoxicant. It destroys the body, and it destroys others. Some might say, “I don’t smoke around others”. If you don’t, then GOOD, but you’re setting an example for your children, grandchildren and other young people who look up to you. Kids who are raised by parents or grandparents who smoke are at-least 70% more likely to smoke, than those who are raised by those who set the right example. You can tell others not to smoke, but your actions speak louder than words.

Can you seriously imagine Jesus smoking a cigarette? God forbid! Can you imagine him having an addiction to any drug? Can you imagine Saints in the kingdom puffing on a Cigar under the tree of life?

I urged you as Paul urged the early church, that you Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,